SCHOOLS 2 levies up for renewal approved to appear on November ballot

The 5.9-mill levy was first passed in 1996. BOARDMAN -- The school board voted Monday to place a pair of renewal levies on the Nov. 8 ballot. Voters will decide whether the school district can renew five-year levies of 6 and 5.9 mills. The 6-mill levy, which would raise about $3.7 million per year for expenses, was first approved in 1991. Increases in the district's assessed property value since that time make the effective rate paid by residential taxpayers about 3.8 mills, superintendent Frank Lazzeri said. The 5.9-mill levy was first passed in 1996 and would raise $4.3 million annually for the school district. With increases in assessed property values, the effective rate paid by taxpayers is now about 4.5 mills. "We've been successful passing these each time they've come up for renewal," Lazzeri said. 'Retire-rehire' The board also approved the hiring of five employees under the district's "retire-rehire" program. The state allows school districts to rehire retiring employees, who can collect their state retirement benefits while working at the bottom step of the professional pay scale for staff at their education level. The district does not pay benefits to "retire-rehire" employees. The district has rehired 15 employees in the three years under the current contract. Retiring employees can work under up to three one-year contracts and enter or leave the program after any year in the three-year "window." Lazzeri said the arrangement has saved the school district about $1.37 million, not including the savings in benefits. "It's been a good thing for our school district," he said. "We have needed the money to offset losses from [enrollment lost to] charter schools and open enrollment." That totals about $945,000 over the last three years, Lazzeri said. There were five additions to the district's "retire-rehire" program this year: UFrank Centofani, Boardman High math teacher UElsie Daugherty, Center Middle School grade 6 language arts teacher UPatricia Ervin, Stadium Drive Elementary School first grade teacher UJames Kennedy, Boardman High English teacher URichard Weimer, Boardman High School guidance counselor. Other business The board also acted on the following: UApproved the resignation of Boardman High instrumental music teacher Wesley O'Connor. He will become director of bands in Austintown schools. UVoted to give the school district permission to advertise bids to purchase up to five replacement school buses. The district bought three last school year.